Will England cricketers play in IPL 2021: A total of 14 English players were part of original squads for Indian Premier League 2021.
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With the first-ever truncated season of the Indian Premier League getting registered earlier this month, BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) has a whole lot of criterion to check before resuming the tournament again later this year.
With all the overseas players returning back to their respective countries, the tournament won’t resume anytime soon. While international calendars have a tendency of adjusting to accommodate an IPL season, the same would be no mean task for the second time in the same year.
In a year when top-notch international tournaments such as the ICC T20 World Cup and the Ashes are to be played, BCCI will have to make multiple efforts to ensure the resumption of the biggest T20 league.
India is a special country going through a very difficult time. Thank you for welcoming me and my family like you always do. Please stay safe and look after yourselves 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/DnNdFKkuO2
— Jos Buttler (@josbuttler) May 5, 2021
Another point which will involve a lot of discussion is the venue for the remainder of the season. While BCCI will have the option of returning to the UAE, where IPL 2020 was played, there have been invitations from a couple of English counties and Sri Lanka as well.
Will England cricketers play in the remainder of IPL 2021?
Apart from the date and venue of the IPL, availability of overseas players is another area which is likely to get affected considering the 14th season resumes in 2021. According to England Men’s Director of Cricket Ashley Giles, ECB (England Cricket Board) has plans of involving centrally contracted English players in England matches.
“We’re planning on the involvement of England players in England matches,” Giles told reporters in England. “We’ve got a full FTP schedule. So, if those tours to Pakistan and Bangladesh [in September and October respectively] are going ahead, I’d expect the players to be there,” Giles said.
Despite England hosting New Zealand for a two-match Test series in June, some English players were still allowed to play IPL 2021 (according to original fixtures). Addressing the same, Giles highlighted how the series against New Zealand was planned after IPL contracts and NOCs had happened and how the same wouldn’t be the case whenever IPL 2021 resumes.
“The New Zealand scenario was very different. Those Test matches were formalised at the end of January, by which time all those contracts and NOCs [no objection certificates] were signed for full involvement in the IPL.
“None of us knows what a rearranged IPL looks like at the moment; where it’s going to be or when. But from when we start this summer against New Zealand, our programme is incredibly busy. We’ve got a lot of important, high-profile cricket including the T20 World Cup and the Ashes. And we’re going to have to look after our players,” Giles added.
It is worth mentioning that a total of 14 English cricketers were part of IPL 2021. Barring Sam Billings and Liam Livingstone, all the other 12 players are centrally contracted with the ECB. Assuming that IPL 2021 will be completed without English players, Rajasthan Royals (Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer), Chennai Super Kings (Sam Curran and Moeen Ali) and Kolkata Knight Riders (Eoin Morgan – captain) will be the most affected franchises.
